Latching device



0. c. H. HANKWITZ LATCHING DEVICE July 9, 1929.

Filed Dec. 26, 1925 Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO G. IL HANKWITZ, F FONT) DU LAC, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 W. J. NUSS LUMBER 80 SUPPLY COMPANY, OF FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WIS- CONSIN.

LATCHING DEVICE.

and which may be readily applied and.

manipulated.

Some of the more specific objects of the present improvement, are as follows To provide an extremely simple and compact latch especially adapted to detachably secure one frame Within another as in combination storm and screen doors wherein glazed and screen covered closure frames are interchangeably associable with the same opening of a main door frame.

To provide a neat and substantially concealed fastening device comprising a latch bar and a retainer plate therefore, so constructed and assembled that ingress of dirt to the interior of the retainer is effectively prevented.

To provide an improved fastening con sisting of only two pieces which may be readily formed of sheet metal with the aid of punches and dies, and which may be rig idly attached to a supporting element without necessity of using nails, screws, or similar fastning means.

To provide latch mechanisms which may be conveniently applied or removed, and

similar parts of which are interchangeable.

To provide various other improvements in the details of construction and installation of locking mechanisms or fastenings, whereby the cost of manufacture thereof is reduced to a minimum while their utility is enhanced to a maximum.

A clear conception of several embodi- 'ments of the present improvement and of .7, the mode of constructing and manipulating devices embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate 5,0 the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an upper corner of a combination door frame having a glazed closure frame secured within the Serial No. 77,830.

main frame opening by means of an im proved self-tightening latching device.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a fragment of the combination door frame showing the improved self-tightening latching device in inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a section taken longitudinally through the improved self-tightening latching device and the adjacent door and closure frames, the section being taken along the line IIIIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken transversely through the improved self-tightening latching device and the adjacent door frame, the section being taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a fragment of a combination door frame showing another form of improved latching device applied thereto.

Fig. 6 is a section taken longitudinally through the improved latching device and door frame of Fig. 5, the sect-ion being taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Referring to the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, the main door frame 2 is provided with an opening 3 formed to receive an auxiliary frame 4. The door frame 2 has a continuous inwardly projecting ledge 28 at the opening 3, formed for coaction with a surface of the frame 4, and the frame 4 has a continuous outwardly projecting ledge 29 formed for coaction with a surface of the main frame 2. The cooperating frames 2, 4 are provided respectively, at vertically spaced points along their side edges, with contiguous recesses 7, 8 preferably cut into the frames with rotary milling cutters. The milling cutter used to form the recesses 7 is shaped to produce a groove at the bottom of each recess 7, this groove extending along the sides of and around the semi-circular rear end of each recess 7 The recesses 7 are downwardly biased toward the recesses 8 in the frame 4 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The improved latching device or fastening shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, comprises only two pieces or element-s, namely, a retainer plate 5 and a bar or latch bar 6 slidable within the recess 7 below theplate 5. The retainer plate 5 may be formed of sheet metal with the aid of punches and dies, and

consists of a Hat outer portion normally disposed flush with the top of therecess 7, parallel side walls 25 and a semi-circular connecting end wall 24f snugly fitting the adjacent walls of the recess 7, and a flange 14- snugly fitting the groove at the bottom of the recess 7. The retainer plates 5 form closures for and are held in the recesses 7 by friction alone, and the flat outer portion of each plate 7 is provided with a T-shaped perforation 10. The tongue 11 of metal removed by the forming punch when the perforation 10 is produced, is forced back into the plane of the flange 14, the tongue 11 being locally distorted to produce a slight projection 12 on its outer face. The bars 6 may likewise be formed of relatively heavy sheet metal with the aid of dies and punches, and each bar 6 consists of a downwardly biased body having a T-shaped manipulating projection 9 extending laterally from the body and through the perforation 10 in the adjacent closure plate 5. Normally, the bar 6 is located within the recess 7 below the closure plate 5, and is capable of being slid within the limits afforded by the ends of the perforation 10. The bottom of the latch body is provided with a detent 13 formed to engage, the projection 12 on the tongue 11 to hold the bar 6 in inoperative position and attached to the retainer plate The forward lower face 28 of the bar 6 is of wedge formation so that when the bar 6 is moved forward into the recess 8, the face 23 be comes effective to urge the frame 4: into engagement with the ledge 28.

In order to assemble the plate 5 and the bar 6 of the improved latching device shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the "T-shaped projection 9 of the bar 6 may be inserted through the widened forwarr portion of the perforation 10, and the bar 6 pulled back until the projection 12 of the tongue 11 enters the detent l3 whereupon the elements will be fastened to each other by virtue of the resiliency of the tongue 11. After the latching device has been thus assembled, it may be applied to a recess 7 of the frame 2 by merely forcing the plate 5 endwise into the recess 7 until the forward edge of the plate 5 is in line with the side of the opening 3 and the flange 14 is disposed entirely within the groove at the bottom of the recess 7. The latching device is then ready for use and is retained within the recess 7 byfriction alone, no other fastening means being necessary.

With the latching device thus applied to a door frame 2, an auxiliary frame 4 may be inserted in the opening 3 with its recesses 8 in proximity to the bars 6. The bars 6 may then be forced forwardly into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 causing the wedge surfaces 23 to ride over the adjacent edges of the recesses 8 and to force the ledges 28, 29 in intimate contact with the frames 4, 2

respectively. By virtue of the downward biasing of the bars 6, gravity tends at all times to urge the bars 6 into fastening position, especially when the door is jarred.

Referring to the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, the main door frame 2 and the auxiliary frame 4 are formed as previously described, but the fastening device retaining recesses 17 instead of being inclined or biased, are disposed horizontally with respect to the door opening 3, and may if desired be disposed vertically above and below this pening. The recesses 17 may be formed with a milling cutter of the same shape as that employed in the formation of the re cesses 7, and the auxiliary frame recesses may be of the same form as the recesses 8 previously described. 7

The improved fastening device or fastening shown in Figs. 5 and 6, likewise com prises only two pieces or elements, namely, a retainer plate 15 and a latch bar 16 slidable within the recess 17 below the plate 15. The retainer plate 15 may likewise be formed of sheet metal with the aid of dies and punches, and consists of a flat outer portion normally disposed flush with the top of the recess 17, parallel side walls and a semi-circular end wall extending transversely of the outer portion and snugly fitting the adjacent walls of the recess 17, and a flange 22 extending away from the plate walls and snugly fitting a groove at the bottom of the recess 17. The retainer plate 15 likewise provides a closure for the recess 17 and is held within the recess 17 by friction alone. The flat outer portion of each plate 15 is provided with a T-shaped perforation 18, the metal removed in forming this perforation being forced back into the plane of the flange 22 to form a resilient tongue 20 the forward end of which may be distorted to providea latch retaining projection 21. The bars 16 may also be formed of relatively heavy sheet metal with the aid of dies and punches, and each bar 16 consists of a body portion having an inclined wedging surface 26 at its forward end and having a T-shaped manipulating projection 19 at its opposite end extending laterally through the perforation 18 of the adjacent retainer plate 15. Normally, the bar 16 is located within the recess 17 below the closure plate 15, and is capable of being slid over the resilient projection 21 of the tongue 20 within the limits of the perforation 18. The projection 21 is sufficiently flexible to permitlongitudi'nal adjustment of the bar 16, and is formed to frictionally retain the bar 16 in any position of adjustment.

The latching device of Figs. 5 and 6 may be assembled by inserting the T-shaped manipulating projection 19 of the bar 16 through the widened forward end of the perforation 18 and by subsequently pulling the bar 16 rearwardly over the tongue projection 21 to inoperative position where it will be retained by friction. After the latching device has been thus assembled, it may be applied to a recess 17 of the frame 2 by merely forcing the plate 15 endwise into the recess 17 until the forward edge of the plate 15 is in line with the side of the opening 3 and the flange 22 is disposed entirely within the groove at the bottom of the recess 17. The latching device thus applied is ready for operation and is retained within the recess 17 by friction alone. lVith the device thus applied to a door frame 2, an auxiliary frame 4 may be inserted in the opening 3 with its recesses 8 in horiozntal alinement with the door recesses 17. The bars 16 may then be forced horizontally into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 causing the wedge surfaces 26 to ride over the adjacent edges of the recesses 8 and to latch the frames together as previously described. With the bars 16 in latching position, the project-ions 21 frictionally hold them until they are released by pressure applied to the projections 19.

From the foregoing description it Will be apparent that the improved latching devices are of extreme simplicity and that the retaining plates 5, 15 effectively serve as closures for and prevent ingress of dirt to the recesses 7, 17. Each of the devices comprises only two elements which are held in assembled position and within the recesses of the door frame, by friction alone. By forming these elements of sheet metal, construction thereof is greatly facilitated and the use of rotary milling cutters to form the recesses 7, 8, 17 insures identical formation of any number of these recesses. The form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 eliminates necessity of utilizing right and left latching devices. The improved latching devices have a neat appearance and are substantially concealed from view when in use.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and mode of format-ion herein shown and described, for obvious modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination with two cooperating frames having alined recesses, a sheet metal plate having a perforated body portion disposed substantially flush with the bounding surface of one of said frames and formed with side portions extending into the recess of said frame and frictionally engaging the sides thereof, and a latch bolt slidable within said recess beneath said plate, said bolt having a manipulating projection extending outwardly through the perforation of said body portion and being movable into the recess of said other frame to fasten said frames together.

2. In combination with cooperating frames having alined recesses, a sheet metal plate disposed substantially flush with the bounding surface of one of said frames and formed with side portions extending into the recess of said frame and frictionally engaging the sides thereof, said plate having an elongated locally enlarged opening therein, and a latch bolt slidable within said recess beneath said plate and having a manipulating projection extending through said opening, said projection being insertable through said opening only at the enlargement thereof and said bolt being movable into the recess of said other frame to fasten said frames together.

3. In combination With cooperating frames having alined recesses, a sheet metal plate disposed substantially flush with the bounding surface of one of said frames and formed with side portions extending into the recess of said frame and frictionally engaging the sides thereof, said plate having an elongated opening and an integral strip of sheet metal coacting with the bottom of said recess beneath said opening, and a latch bolt slidable within said recess over said metal strip, said bolt having a manipulating projection extending outwardly through said opening and being movable into the recess of said other frame to fasten said frames together.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

OTTO C. H. HANKWITZ. 

